Jay Johnson on North Carolina baseball: 'They have the pieces to win the national title'

The LSU Tigers baseball team fell short in its national title defense, unable to make it to the Super Regionals after losing to a North Carolina Tar Heels team that head coach Jay Johnson believes has all the pieces to win a national title.

“They might win it,” Jay Johnson said. “They have the pieces to win the national title. They’re built for the ballpark in Omaha. They do a terrific job coaching.”

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Jay Johnson got a good, long look at North Carolina during the Chapel Hill Regional. There, the Tigers and the Tar Heels played three times, but it was North Carolina at the end who had the last laugh. On Monday, the Tar Heels beat the Tigers 4-3 in 10 innings. To get there, North Carolina needed to rally and score a run in the ninth inning to tie the game.

Part of why the loss was so difficult to take for LSU came down to how close of a game it was. Had a couple breaks gone the other way, the Tigers would be the ones moving on.

“And we’re right there. If we get a check swing strike three, there’s two outs right there and we don’t get to extra innings. I don’t know if it was or it wasn’t, but it’s that close and when you’re on the road against a great opponent, it’s a small margin for error.”

North Carolina has been one of the best teams in all of college baseball this season, going 45-15 to this point. That includes a 22-8 record in conference play. Because of all that success, the Tar Heels were able to earn the fourth overall seed and host a Regional.

Now, North Carolina is moving on to the Super Regional. LSU, meanwhile, is heading into the offseason looking to find a way to get back to Omaha in 2025.

Jay Johnson says he has a broken heart following loss

Following the loss to North Carolina, Jay Johnson shared that he has a broken heart about how the season ended this year.

“We held the trophy last year and I am as equally proud of my team and our program today as I was that day. And where we were in the middle of SEC play to right now is one of the most gratifying coaching years of my entire life. I love these guys: the achievement, the accomplishment, I mean that’s obviously what we’re here to do. Literally means nothing to me, I have a broken heart just simply because I wanted to go to practice Wednesday and I love these guys,” Johnson said.

“This is special right here what this young man did tonight. He’s an elite pitcher, somebody should sign him. If anybody in professional baseball is paying attention they’ll sign Will Hellmers. But last year he wasn’t even on the roster in Omaha, but you’re allowed the 40-person deal and you can figure out who the first person I would put on there as an extra was Will because of what he means to our team and our program. I’ll never forget this week the rest of my life and congratulations again to North Carolina, but broken heart tonight.”